Electronic Home Monitoring (EHM) is a supervision tool employed by the criminal justice system.  EHM uses a residential phone line, monitoring unit, and ankle bracelet.  The residential phone line cannot include call waiting, call forwarding or caller ID services.  EHM will not work with a cell phone. 

The EHM monitoring unit receives a continuous coded signal transmitted from the ankle bracelet.  The EHM monitoring unit can determine if the ankle bracelet has been removed or tampered with.  The EHM monitoring unit detects when the individual wearing the ankle bracelet enters or leaves the residence.  Many EHM monitoring units also include a breath test accessory to detect alcohol consumption.  All the information transmitted by the ankle bracelet, and received by the monitoring unit is then sent to the EHM provider via the telephone line.  The EHM provider will send status reports to the court or probation authority.

Some jurisdictions allow the individual to attend work, substance abuse treatment and other functions while participating in Electronic Home Monitoring. 

Electronic Home Monitoring may be a substitute for mandatory incarceration on first offense DUIs.  Every mandatory day in jail requires 15 days of EHM.  Those convicted of a second or third offense DUI must be assigned EHM immediately upon release from the mandatory jail time.  That means you will serve jail time and then upon release spend a required amount of time on Electronic Home Monitoring as well.  See the DUI Penalties section to determine jail and EHM durations.

Some jurisdictions will require a defendant to participate in the EHM program as a condition of release while their case progresses through the criminal justice system.  Conditions are release are imposed during the arraignment hearing.  See the Court Process for further information.